Coupling mechanism.



"W. D. LEPTWIGH.

GOUPLING MEGEANISM. l APPLICATION FILED APR. 3,*1907. Y 900,558 Patented 001;.6, 1908. 2 SHEETS-SHET 1.

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W. D. LEPTWIGH.

GOUPLING MECHANISM.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. S, 1907. 900,558. Patented oon. 6, 190s.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED ,'PATnNroFFroE. N

WILLIAM D. LEFTWIGH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ooUPLING MEcHnNrsM.

j Specification of Iietters Patent.

Application led April 3, 1907.

Patented Oct. 6, 1908.

serialNo. 366,180.

State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain' new and useful Improvements in Coupling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. Y My invention refers to improvements in couplings and is designed for thepurpose of providing `a car coupler with supplemental coupling mechanism for the hose terminals of the air supply or steam supply of the brake or heating system of a train, so constructed as to accomplish automatic coupling and uncoupling of the hose terminals, simultaneously with the coupling and uncoupling of the cars.

The invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1. is a plan view of the apparatus showing the -coupling jaws and hose terminals connected for operation. Fig. 2. is a similar view showing the partsseparated and about to be coupled together. Fig; 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 1. Fig. 4. is a vertical sectional view on the lineIV. IV. of Fig. 1 Fig. 5. is a cross sectional view on the line V. V. of Fig. 3.

In the drawings, 2, 2, represent the coupling jaws of a standard coupler of the Janney type, of well known construction provided with pivoted jaws 3,3, for automatic interlocking engagement, each of said jaws being provide nl with the inner arm 4 adapted in the locked position to be engaged and held by the inner end 5 of lever 6. -Said lever extends transversely of each coupling head 2 and is pivotally mounted at 7, having a terminal 8 extending outwardly at one side and adapted to be raised by any suitable connection 9 against the pressure of spring `10. Said spring is interposed between the outer end of lever 6 and any suitable supporting abutment 11, by which arrangement the locking terminal 5 of arm 6 will automatically engage in front of the inner end of arm 4 to hold the ycoupling jaw in locking position after the be readily understood. v

minal 15 respectively, mounted on each of the coupling heads in such a position as to be brought `into abutting contact when the coupling heads are together, as shown in Fig. 4. Terminals 14 and 15 are hollow as shown at a and b respectively, Fig. 4.

Each coupling head 2 is provided at one side with the coupling abutment 14 and the coupling abutment 15 at the other side, so arranged that when the car couplers are connected, the fluid coupling abutments will make contact at each side, as shown in Fig. l. For the purpose of insuring tight communieating contact one or the other of said abutments, as abutment 14, is provided with a packing gasket 16 of rubber or other suitable resilient material, whereby a tight joint is secured. j

Abutments 14 are preferably rigidly attached to or made integral with the coupling head 2 as shown, .and are preferably provided with forwardly extending horns 17 arranged to insure the centralization and proper contact of the companion abutment 15, while below the circulation abutment 14 is the guiding socket 18 havingan inwardly tapering cavity 18 for the purpose of centralizing and guiding said companion abutment to position. For such purpose abutment 15 is provided with a forwardly projecting tapered horn 19 arranged to enter the cavity 18 in the operation of coupling and to guide the abutment into suitable contacting position, abutment 15 and horn 19 being preferably in one piece. For the urpose of supporting said arts, I provi e a housing 2O mounted von t e side or integral with the coupling head 2, in which is mounted a stem 21 and an interposed spring 22 surrounding a reduced extension 23 of said stem and adapted to project it outwardly in advance o1: they housing. Between stem 21 and abutment 15 and its horn 19, is interposed one or more coupling links 24 ivotally connected with the abutment an stem respectively by pins 25 and 26 as shown. By this construction I provide a universally flexible joint so that either lateral or vertical deiiection of the abutment with relation. toits carrying stem is provided, thereby overcoming and compensating for variation in the car or other variation due to movement of travel, inequalities in the roadbed, etc.

At its rear end stem 23 is provided with a guiding pin 27 arranged to enter a guiding slot 28 in the upper portion of housing 2O and to maintain the stem 21 in pro er posi# tion Jfor holding the abutment uprig it above horn 19, while a terminal collar 29, is mounted at the end of stem 23 tolimit its forward movement. Each abutment 15 as thus constructed and mounted is capable of an independent longituidnal movement with relation to its supporting coupling head 2 and 'for the purpose of locking said abutment 15 against the relatively immovable coupling abutment 14, l provide wedges 30, 30,formin g elements of a sliding bolt 31, mounted for lateral adjustment transversely across the top of each coupling head 2, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Each of said bolts 31 is provided with upper and lower guiding stems 32, 32 adapted to slide in receiving slots or openings 33, 33', above and below the central opening a therethrough. At the other end the bolt 31 is provided with a terminal 34 mounted in a bearing 35 and at the front is provided with a 'forwardly projecting lug 31 by which it is actuated.

36 is an actuating arm mounted on the upper end of the pivotal stem 37 of each coupler and adapted to swing with the coupling jaw thereof and provided with a terminal so arranged as to embrace and engage the lug 31 of bolt 31. Thus when the coupling jaws 3 are swung inwardly in the operation of makin@ the car coupling, terminal 36 engaging Zlug 31 will thrust the wedges 3() inwardly engaging corresponding tapered sockets 38, 38, in the upper or upper and lower sides of coupling abutments 15, thereby closely binding the abutting terminals of such air coupling devices in close contact with each other, as shown in Fig. 1. On the other hand, when the ordinary couplers are uncoupled and the jaws 3 are swung outwardly, then the shorter terminals 39 of swinging jaws 36 engage behind lugs 31l of jaws 31, throwing them back in the opposite direction, relieving the binding connection of abutments 14 and 15, and allowing them to be opened and drawn apart.

The operation of the invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description.

The guiding horns 19 entering their appropriate sockets 1S will centralize the hose terminal almtments so that they will he brought into intimate contact and then locked together, while the mounting of the parts provides for sul'lieient flexibility to compensate .for any of the variations arising in service.

The invention may be variously changed or inodiiicd in construction, design, or other details by tho skilled mechanic, but all sueh changes are to be considered as within the scope of the following claims.

l/Vhat l claim is:

1. In a car coupler, the combination with the main coupler head provided with a swinging jaw and a lluid comlurting terminal at one side adapted to receive and malte eonnection with a co-aeting terminal of another similar coupler, of a transversely arranged sliding locking wedge adapted to tighten said terminals together, with` an actuating arm operable by the swinging jaw and adapted to move said wedge in conformity with the. movement of the jaw, substantially as set forth..

2. ln a Car coupler, the combiimtion ofa main coupler head provided with a swinging jaw, a fluid-comlueting terminal at one side thereof adapted to receive and mahc eonneetion with a ero-actingterminal of another similar coupler and having a vertically arranged portion provided with a tapered guiding socket, a iiuid-comlrufting terminal at the other side of the coupler head provided with a vertically arrai'iged guiding projection and a guide stem loosely coupled therewith, a guiding housing mounted on the coupler head engaging said stem and provided with a cushioning spring, a transverraily arranged sliding locking wedge adapted to engage and couple together one of said conducting ierminals with the terminal of a cio-acting eoupler head, and an actuating arm operable hy the swinging jaw of the coupler adapted to move said wedge in conformity with the movement of the jaw, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof l aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VlLLIAM D. lill) F'lWlUl l.

Titnesses C. H. CLARKE, CIL/is. S. LEPLEY. 

